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A friend and I are planning to set off from my home in New Orleans and head north towards Minnesota this summer, and we're wondering whether to take the ACA Great Rivers route or the Mississippi River Trail. I'm just in the initial planning stages and still don't know a great deal about either route. Anyone have any thoughts?

I looked up information on that route. There is a book with detailed information for cycling the Mississippi river trail. In the northern part near and in Minnesota I remember it was extremely humid and hot. The mosquitoes came in thick swarms and carried men away. Read, "Life on the Mississippi" by Mark Twain for an appreciation of the history of the towns there, and the early settlements. The river has catfish six feet long that have been known to jump ashore and swallow small dogs whole. There are snapping turtles that weigh in at 200 pounds, just in case you need to take a swim to simmer down after a day on the road. While resting at the water's edge one afternoon I saw a large garfish jump ten feet out of the water and snatch a bird off a limb of a tree. In some northern parts there are many short, abrupt, steep hills. That's on the west side of the river. Another road a bit farther to the west of the river is less hilly.

Have you read the information on the Great Rivers South route? If not, go here: http://adventurecycling.org/routes/greatrivers.cfm Below the photo click on the text that says More for further information. I don't know anything about the Mississippi River Trail, but ACA's route leaves the Mississippi River in southern Missouri, heads southeast, and doesn't return to the river until Natchez, Mississippi. If your goal is to follow the river then the Mississippi River Trail would be better for you. The Great Rivers South uses a large portion of the Natchez Trace.

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Carla MajernikRoutes and Mapping Program Director

Adventure Cycling AssociationInspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle.800/755-2453, 406/721-1776 x218, 406/721-8754 fax www.adventurecycling.org

Hey there...In 2008 I did a ride from New Orleans to Lake Itasca/International Falls, I followed some of the Mississippi trail then did my own route...check it out on www.crazyguyonabike.com/Timmy

Good luck!!!Tim

Tim, thanks for the link, my wife and I are in the early stages of planning an epic tour (for us) in 2014. We are thinking about either the Underground Railroad or the Mississippi River trail. Your thoughts and experiences in you journal will be very helpful in making our decision.

Hello,We have just returned from cycling the Mississippi River Trail. We travelled north to south from Fargo North Dakota to the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Itasca State Park and then on to New Orleans. We actually combined both the Great Rivers route and the Mississippi River Trail. Visit our blog at http://rwnetworks.blogspot.ca - we have included maps for each of our sections.

Our trip was fantastic....and I don't think you can go wrong with either route. Good luck and happy travels.